Is My Shih Tzu Sleeping Too Much

If you own a Shih Tzu already, you may be familiar with their sleeping patterns, but sometimes it can get a bit worrisome. Is my Shih Tzu sleeping too much? 

Before you start worrying, this breed naturally sleeps a lot. The amount depends on their age and activity level. In other words, it’s not uncommon for your Shih Tzu to sleep half the day.

Shih Tzu is the perfect companion dogs. They love to follow their owner around, they're great around children, and their effervescent demeanour makes them easy to love. Shih Tzu also loves to curl up on your lap and relax the day away. In fact, this dog is quite the sleepy little one!

As long as they're responsive and don't show any signs of sickness when they are awake, chances are you have nothing to be concerned about.

Shih Tzu Sleeping Schedule

There are four major stages that a Shih Tzu will go through, all requiring different amounts of sleep.

Newborns

Until about three weeks of age, newborn Shih Tzu puppies will only wake up to nurse and find momma. They’re just like human babies! They sleep, eat, do their business, and sleep some more.

Puppies

Now that your Shih Tzu is no longer taking cues from mom, their sleep schedule is their own choice. A Shih Tzu puppy will sleep like any other puppy. One minute they are jumping up and down and then the next - it’s lights out.

Generally speaking, a Shih Tzu puppy will sleep more often than not. You can expect their cute round eyes to be closed about 16 to 20 hours a day.

Adolescents and Adults

Sleep schedules for Shih Tzu’s tend to normalize at about one year old. The amount they sleep will be affected by the amount of physical activity they get during the day, but not in how you may think.

The Golden Years

Your Shih Tzu officially qualifies as a senior dog at around ten years old. Though they may be slowing down, do not reduce their activity! In other words, it’s okay for them to sleep more, but don’t be the reason why they sleep more. You can incorporate less strenuous activity to their daily routine less frequently; just don’t ignore their social needs.

Older Shih Tzu’s will find themselves napping throughout the day, sleeping a total of 16-19 hours.

What to Look Out For

If you notice your Shih Tzu is suddenly sleeping more than usual, they could have had a particularly exciting day, be getting older, or not feeling that well. It may not be something serious, but it could justify a trip to the veterinarian. However, you may want to take their change in sleeping patterns a bit more seriously if you notice the following:

Depression

Just like humans, some of the major signs of depression are a lack of energy and interest. Whether it is chemical or nutrition-based is up for the vet to decide, but you will see depression manifest in your Shih Tzu by way of their sleeping patterns.

Narcolepsy

If your Shih Tzu randomly falls asleep in the middle of an activity, they may have Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy in dogs is not that uncommon. Although it mostly affects breeds like Poodles, Dobermans, and Dachshunds, your Shih Tzu could have it, too.

Narcolepsy is not life-threatening, but it is still important to follow up with your vet if you suspect your dog has it. Watch your dog’s behavior closely. If the little guy is one minute chasing a ball and then next has collapsed into nap mode, then it could be a sign that they have this condition.

The Answer Could Rest in You

Don’t always blame your Shih Tzu naturally sleepy nature on the breed. Sometimes, an owner needs to evaluate how they are contributing to what may be perceived as excess sleep. Your Shih Tzu could be sleeping too much because you aren’t engaging them enough. 

Think of signs of boredom in humans. When we have “nothing to do” what happens? We raid the fridge, stare at the ceiling, lay on the couch -- take a nap. Low energy begets low energy. Take your Shih Tzu for a walk twice a day and play with them! If your Shih Tzu has been sleeping a lot more than usual, it may just be because they need something to do.